OK then, how about this. These angled or hooked tip blades do apparantly seem to be associated with the Hadendoa or Beja (Spring,p.104).However, in an interesting discussion I had with a Beja tribesman from Eritrea whom I had become well acquainted, he emphatically told me the 'hooked' type blade was not Hadendoa or Beja....but actually from the Afar tribes in Danakil.
Naturally there was great diffusion of weapons in these areas, but he seemed very involved with the traditions and weaponry there, in fact most of his family was still in Eritrea. He loaned me a VHS recorded of tribal dances there with various weapons as I had asked about use of the kaskara there.
As the native singing and tribal chants bellowed forth from my den upstairs my wife became concerned after about a half hour of the ceremony I began to join in (being careful to keep my kaskara away from the ceiling fan! not to repeat the dreaded tulwar and drambuie fan incident!)
Much of her concern may have evolved from the previous week's Jimi Hendrix 'experience'!! as "Purple Haze" etc. blasted from the den and the incense wafted under the door......maybe it was the headband that really freaked her out
Anyway, back to East Africa. Lew's blade seems of course to reflect the blade type of Afar, and reflects the influence of kaskara fullering seen in the overall blade motif.
I have always thought it would be interesting to discover more on the X shape of the hilt. I guess another time maybe.